I am Karen Greaves. I've worked in software my whole career, and first got exposed to agile in 2002 when I worked for a company doing XP. A few years later I discovered Scrum and started to understand that agile was about alot more than just engineering practises. As a recovering workaholic, I see agile as a way to restore some balance and change the nature of our relationship to work to something we enjoy and excell at.
Until recently I have been working in various roles in software companies ranging from Project Office Manager, to Programme Manager, to Software Development Manager, but as of 1 January 2012, I am striking out with a partner and launching my own training and mentoring company called Growing Agile (www.growingagile.co.za). Yet another step on my journey of making work something I am passionate about and that plays to my strengths.
This will be my first RFG, but I have heard wonderful things from some of my mentor's like Peter Hundermark who have attended before. I love retrospectives, and would love to share some of the techniques I use as well as learning from others. I think that well run retrospectives are a critical part of continuous improvement. I am also particularly excited about the idea of a really small event where I can get to know everyone personally.
To find out more about me you can read me blog scrumcoaching.wordpress.com or follow me on twitter @karen_greaves
And of course since I believe in balance, the other interests in my life are Xbox, good food and wine - I am lucky enough to live in Cape Town so get to drink good wine regularly, and scuba diving, though usually in waters a bit warmer than Cape Town! I am also a bit of a crazy cat lady (my husband's words), and gush over my 3 lovely kitties as if they were my children ;)